Aamir Atlas wins 17th Asian Individual Men’s Squash Championship as Pakistan end 14-year wait for Asia squash title

Islamabad: Pakistan ended a 14-year drought as its top player Aamir Atlas won the 17th Asian Individual Men’s Squash Championship by defeating Abdullah Al Muzayen of Kuwait in Islamabad.

Pakistan last won the title in 1998 when Zarak Jahan Khan defeated Kenneth Low of Malaysia.

Pakistan’s No 1, Atlas on Sunday routed Al Muzayen in the final with a straight-sets defeat at the Mushaf Squash Complex.

The 23-year-old Atlas won 11-9, 11-3, 11-8, Xinhua reported.

“I needed this victory badly. My country needed this also. I’m proud today as I took back the title after 14 years gap,” Atlas said.

Atlas said his current performance is the result of hard work and tough training to build his stamina. “I went through a six-week-long tough training at an academy of Pakistan army that helped improve my fitness and stamina and the result is here,” he said.

The result was nothing short of an upset considering that Al Muzayen had played superbly throughout the event but looked completely out of his depth in the final.